On 7 Dec at 2123 hrs, a fatal traffic accident occurred between a private bus and a person at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road. Shortly after, a riot broke out involving a crowd of about 400 subjects where the subjects damaged 5 police vehicles and 1 ambulance. Several other private vehicles were also damaged. 10 officers were injured.

Police activated resources from Special Operations Command and Gurkha Contingent to the scene and the situation is under control.

Police would like to advise the public in the area to remain indoors while police operations are ongoing. Other members of the public are advised to keep away from the vicinity. Members of the public are also advised to stay calm and not to speculate on this incident. Members of the public with any information of the riot are advised to call the police at 1800-2550000.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Teo Chee Hean, said, "This is a serious incident which has resulted in injuries and damage to public property. The situation is now under control. Police will spare no efforts to apprehend the subjects involved in the riot."

This is a good wake-up call for the local authorities to be more mindful of such incidents. At the same time, it's a reminder that things aren't as they always seem. There's tension brewing in some sectors of the community and this needs to be looked into.

For the rioters, they're insane if they think that they can get away with this. They'll be hunted down, charged and then deported (after sitting in prison for some time), never to set foot in Singapore again.

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***Update: 9 Dec: 02:23***According to the press conference: 27 individuals have been arrested for rioting with dangerous weapons. The deceased pedestrian was an Indian national and the bus driver a Singaporean.

According to the SCDF report: "Upon arrival there was a man trapped under a bus," said the spokesman. "An SCDF paramedic pronounced him dead on arrival (and) SCDF rescuers extricated the body using hydraulic rescue equipment. Projectiles were thrown at the SCDF rescuers while they were extricating the body. A total of 9 SCDF vehicles were damaged in the incident."***Update 9 Dec: 01:29: The Singapore Police Force issued the following press statement:***"On Dec 8 at 2123 hrs, a fatal traffic accident occurred between a private bus and a person at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road. Shortly after, a riot broke out involving a crowd of about 400 subjects where the subjects damaged 5 police vehicles and 1 ambulance. Several other private vehicles were also damaged. 10 officers were injured.

I have been to many of the S Asian countries for my biz travel It is not unusual for people spilling into the streets and crossing the roads as they wished

A 3-lane road can squeeze 5-lanes worth of vehicles. If you leave the slightest of gaps between your vehicle and others, then other vehicles will squeeze into the space

I often see entire families living under a traffic light or lamp post, toodlers wondering around often with little clothes among dangerous traffic and smelling in toxic exhaust fumes

It is simply a way of life there, it's not about right or wrong.Inevitably, they bring some of their practices as they come to singapore in large numbers

I know many of us, myself included, are enraged by the mayhem caused last night. But it takes 2 to tango. Lets support the police and SCDF to restore calm and arrest the trouble makers. Hopefully we all can take in the lessons learnt. But lets not speculate or jump into conclusions.

Well for those 27 offenders and hopefully many more from the 400, they just lost a chance to make living in our country. really stupid act, no right to take any matters into their own hands or even injuring our SCDF medics, police officers etc

I hope they enjoy their time squatting in a 6x6 cage, polishing chrome bars with toothbrushes, and hopefully some rotan as well!

kevinhwcSeriously, if you see how they dominate the street on weekend, I'm not surprised that accident happens.

They walk as if they own the whole Serangoon Road, crossing the road anytime they like and trying to stop cars so that they can cross.

Anyway, starting a riot is really way too much, although someone lost a life. Be prepared for jail term and be deported.

Totally agreed!!!See how they cross the road and insonsiderate it is.. The garment have to go down there to see how they cross the road and walking in the middle of the small lanes knowing there's vehicles behind and not moving away causing vehicles to slow down behind them while they don't even bother at all..

Hope that there's those camera being installed by police/LTA like geylang at the incident place where can bring justice to either parties.. Anyway , people who drove there in the race course road and small lanes during weekend or peak timing should know how they cause "hazard" to drivers while simply bo chap..

I heard it's not about jay walking. The drunkard wanted to get on the bus but it was packed and the bus driver refused to let him board. Then somehow the accident happened and the drunkard was pin under the wheel which caused the outrage.

Bus driver is somehow at fault and I can understand why the rest are angry. But to make it a riot is too much and not necessary.

Pedestrians here have the belief that when they cross the roads, the law will always be on their side, never mind if it's an offence. Plus, they also believe that the accident would not happen to them. Nevertheless, we as motorist have to on the lookout for such pedestrians.

Heard there are some 250+ pte buses ferrying workers to n from their dorms every sunday whole day long right into the early mornings... packed to the brim esp in the early hrs when most of these workers need to get home.. they also park rather indiscriminately causing more mayhem to the oredi very crowded streets... No wonder they hv very little visibility having to weave in and out amidst the crowds and the buses plus the heavy traffic there... These entreprenural bus companies apparently make a very decent profit from such ferrying (say charge $4 per pax x 2-way x 40passengers x say 15 runs = close to $2000 per sunday per bus) and the taxidriver I was talking to mentioned that even taxis got little fighting chance of picking up passengers there as the pte buses rule the streets there....